"the rachel maddow show" starts right now. >>> it was july 23rd, 2007. it was one of the debates where the moderator does not ask the questions. instead they have the questions submitted by different people all around the country via youtube. at that debate in july 2007, there was the greatest surprise visual review from any questioner in any debate thus far, or since. >> good evening, america. my name is jered townsend from michigan. to all the candidates, tell me your position on gun control as myself and other americans really want to know if our babies are safe. this is my baby, purchased under the 1994 gun ban. please tell me your views. thank you. >> senator biden, are you going to be able to keep his baby safe? >> i tell you what, if that's his baby, he needs help. [ applause ] i think he just made an admission against self-interest. i don't know that he is mentally qualified to own that gun. i'm being serious. look, this idea, we go around talking about people who own -- i'm the guy that originally wrote the assault weapons ban. look, we should b